January 24, 2007

New youth action groups launching, upcoming events and more

Uncivil Discourse and the Rise of the Outrage Industry
Wednesday, February 7
Registration - 5:30 p.m.
Program - 6:30 p.m.
Reception - 7:30 p.m.

Join Citizens League board member, Nate Garvis, vice president for Government Affairs at Target Corporation, for an engaging discussion entitled "Uncivil Discourse and the Rise of the Outrage Industry" at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, February 7 in the McGuire Theater at the Walker Art Center. Nate will offer his perspective on the forces shaping society today, and examine the ways outrage is becoming an industry in and of itself, intent on keeping us angry. The resulting polarization has become a powerful force with social and economic consequences. Going beyond a statement of the problem, Nate will suggest ways to weave ourselves back together so we can tackle today's complex issues with sustainable results.

Presented in partnership with the Walker Art Center and sponsored by Phillips Distilling Company, this event is free. Intended as an opportunity for people to get to know the Citizens League, we ask that members who plan to attend bring a nonmember as your guest. Since space is limited and to aid planning, we ask that you register in advance. Click here to register online, or call (651) 293-0575, extension 16.

Minnesota Road Pricing Summit
Thursday, February 1
8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Road pricing is not just about raising revenue but about creating a more transparent pricing system that deals directly with some of the direct and indirect costs of roads and congestion. Plan to attend this timely discussion from 8:30-11:30 a.m. on Thursday, February 1 in the Metropolitan Council Chambers with US Department of Transportation Assistant Secretary for Policy and Planning, Tyler Duvall. He will be joined by local experts and policymakers to consider the national, state and local outlook for road pricing strategies. Presented by the Citizens League and the University of Minnesota's Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs and Center for Transportation Studies, this event is free and open to the public, but space is limited, so we do ask that you register in advance. Click here to register, or call (651) 293-0575, extension 16.

New Citizens League youth action groups launching

As part of our youth organizing initiative, the Citizens League is launching a new action groups program. Young Citizens League members will organize groups of five to ten people in their age range (roughly 18 to 25) to identify a problem, research the problem, propose a solution, and work to implement it. In the process, participants will build their leadership and organizing skills (including through special training sessions), and they will build the civic capacity of the Citizens League by bringing in new, diverse and committed civic leaders working for the common good. If you are a young person interested in getting involved -- or you know one -- contact Annie Levenson-Falk at alevensonfalk [at] citizensleague.org or 651-293-0575 x16.

Minnesota Anniversary Project update

What's up with MAP 150? After a rousing success in the press (check out this editorial in the Pioneer Press), we've spent the last several weeks talking to dozens of people and organizations about the "how to" of MAP 150. How can citizens be a more active part of public problem-solving? How can citizens become more instrumental as "co-producers" of the common good? Over the next few months we'll be announcing some exciting demonstration projects that will redefine how citizens get involved. These projects will also offer volunteer opportunities for Citizens League members who'd like to get involved -- so stay tuned!

In the meantime, Sean and Stacy are out and about making presentations about MAP 150. If you have a group that you think would like to know more, please contact Stacy at stacybecker [at] comcast.net.

Citizens League Office Manager Position Announcement

The Citizens League is looking for an energetic individual with exceptional organizational skills to serve as our office manager and assistant to the executive director. If you're that person, we encourage you to apply. If you're not, you can still help us by identifying strong candidates. Click here for more information and the full position announcement.

Blog roundup

From Sean's blog: For the past three years we've helped to convene the Minnesota Mental Health Action Group (MMHAG). Our role really was as simple as convening the stakeholders -- and providing critical leadership in the form of Co-Chair Gary Cunningham -- but the members really did all of the work.

Read more on MMHAG and Sean's thoughts on civic engagement and baby boomers. You can also read Sean's essays at the TPT Brain Trust blog.

From the Policy Blog: What we offer is a process that puts to use the skills, perspectives and energy of citizens who do the hard work of solving mysteries. As a staff member, I can pull together the "puzzle pieces" (white papers [including our past work], blueprints and research conducted in a wide variety of institutions), but it is the work of our study committees that draws out the most important findings from these resources, debates their ideas and develops conclusions about them, and works together to come up with recommendations.

Read more about "policy puzzles" and "policy mysteries" - and how the Citizens League can help solve them - and our response to Representative Jeremy Kalin's commentary about using better testing to achieve better academic results.

Posted by Victoria Ford at January 24, 2007 10:50 AM